Washing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. N ETZELL.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 406,230. Patented July 2, 1889.

WITNESSES 6K. 93:2 am- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H NETZELL WASHING MACHINE.

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w w m. 2 w W M& 4 m K m W \b.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

HANS NETZELL, OF STROMSBURG, NEBRASKA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,230, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed May 5, 1888. Serial No. 272,884. (No model.)

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as w1ll enable others skilled in the art.

to which it appertains to make and use the same.

more especially to such as are known in the trade as cylinder-machines? or to those in which the clothes to be washed are first placed in the upper portion of the machine and then passed by means of a cylinder-rubber, which;

will be hereinafter more fully described, over a series of radial slats or washing-apron; and

my invention consists of certain other details.

of construction and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter more fully pointed out and described in the drawings and specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine, the top thereof being removed. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the bottom removed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a section of the bottom; and Fig. 6, a detail view of the radial apron, showing the manner in which the spring-connection is made.

Similar letters are used to designate same parts throughout the entire specification and drawings.

A represents the legs of the machine,which are secured to the sides thereof by screws a a, which, being of the ordinary kind, need no description in this specification.

B is the bottom of the tub, composed of the sections 1) b b, as shown in the drawings that is to say, it comprises a series of slats of any desired width adjusted edge to edge along the lower edges of the sides of the tub, and are held in their adjusted position by means of hoops, which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. I prefer to form in the sections Z) I) Z), on both ends thereof, grooves l), of sufficient width to allow the lower edge of the sides of the tub to fit therein when the former have been brought into position by means of the hoops. If necessary, suitable packing may be inserted into these grooves, forming thereby a perfect water-tight joint between the sides and bottom.

0 G are the sides of the machine, the up per edges 0 c of which project far enough to f enable the upper ends of the bottomhoops Mylnvention relates to certain new and usei iul improvements in washing-machines, and

to pass through and be secured. The inner sides are provided with blocks 0 0 These blocks are for the purpose of holding the washing-apron in position when it is desired that the same shall be brought in close contact with the rubber, as hereinafter fully explained.-

i D is the cylinder-rubber, which may be either of iron, rubber, or any other suitable material which will answer the purpose; but by preference I desire to have the same made of rubber. This rubber is held in position by means of the axle d, which may pass through the same or be made integral therewith, one end resting in the socket d which is formed in the side C. The other end thereof passes through and extends beyond the side 0, so as to permit the wheel (1 to be secured thereon for the purpose hereinafter explained.

E designates the oscillating handle, the lower end of which is of a segmental shape, and has formed therein the groove e. This handle is retained in its position by means of the axle e. The strap 6 is attached to the handle at the point numbered 1, from whence it runs in the groove 6, down to and around the wheel d back into the groove, and thence to the point numbered 2, to which it is secured and forms thereby a connection between the handle and the wheel, by which means movement of the handle from the right to the left causes the rotation of the rubber D. It is obvious that the strap m'ay be dispensed with, and in place thereof teeth may be formed in the segmental portion of the handle to mesh with corresponding teeth formed on the wheel (1 or instead of a handle I may form my connection by means of a treadle, thereby working the machine by foot instead of hand.

I I are the hoops, or, as I term them, the bottom hoops, by which the sectional bottom is secured to the tub. These hoops may be made of either round or hoop iron. \V hen of the latter, their upper endsare reduced and screw-threaded to enable them to receive the nuts ff. I

As above stated, the bottom of the tub is made in sections, which are held in their adjusted position by means of the bottom hoops F I These hoops project at their opposite upper ends through the apertures i t' t" i, formed in the projecting edges 0 c of the sides 0 G, and are secured by nuts ff. Instead of nuts other equivalent modes may be adopted. The advantages of the nuts consist in conferring an adjustable character to the bottom hoops; but other devices may be employed in their place to accomplish this end.

G represents my improved washing-a n-on, which is composed of a series of radial slats g g g, secured together by means of springs g g, which springs may be entire or made in several parts. \Vhen made entire, as shown in the drawings, and which is the desired mode of forming the connection between said slats, they pass through apertures 71, formed in the slats at or near their bottom, giving an upward projection of five (5) inches, or thereabout, to the slats. These slats may be made either of wood, rubber, or any other material which will answer the purpose to which they are to be applied. They are from one and a half (1-1) to two (2) feet in length and about six inches in depth; but of course the length and depth may differ from the figures above given in accordance with the size of the machine to be constructed. I attach to each end of the apron, for the purpose of retaining the same in its position, end boards H H. The end board H is provided with the projecting lip p.

\Vhen the number of pieces to be washed are few in number, it is desirable that the washingsurface or washing-apron be broughtas close as possible to the cylinder-rubber. This is accomplished by allowing the end boards II II of the washing-apron to hang over the ends of the outer casing, as shown in Fig. e of the drawings. \Vhen it is desired to increase the distance between the cylinder-rubber and the surface of the washingapron, so as to permit of a greater number of pieces being washed at the same time, the outer end of the board II, provided with the lip 13, is turned so as to rest by means of said lip over the upper edge of the outer casing, and the inner end thereof is thrown inward until it rests against the side blocks 0 0 secured to the inner faces of the sides 0 O, and the board II has its inner end turned inward until it rests against the side blocks 0 c9, and its outer end is then pressed downward until it rests against the cross-strip p". The space between the upper edge of the board II, resting upon the strip 11, and the upper edge of the outer casing gives room whereon to attach the clothes-wringer, if so desired. It will readily be seen that by this means I am enabled to give an adjustable character to my apronthat is, bringing it close to the rubber when the articles to be washed are few, or allowing it to fall nearthe bottom when the number is great.

Although I prefer to secure my apron in the manner above described, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular mode, as the same may be attached in any convenient manneras, for instance, it may be so placed as to rest lightly upon the bottom of thetub and be secured to the up per edges of the sides; but I find for actual use the mode above described to be most effectual.

The operation of my machine is as follows: After partly filling the tub with water and suds, the clothes are then introduced at the top of the machine, where they will rest lightly upon the cylinder-rubber D, when they are conveyed, by moving the handle E, which imparts a rotary motion to the rubber D, over and against the radial slats or wasl'iing-apron G. By the continuance of the movement of the handle and consequent rotation of the rubber the clothes are subjected again and again to the washing-surface of the apron. It is obvious that should the clothes have a tendency to clog between the rubber and the apron the latter, by reason of its springy connection, will give way to the force exerted upon the rubber and allow the clothes to pass over without tearing or otherwise injuring the same. If desired, instead of tilting the machine over to let oil the dirty water after the clothes have been thoroughly cleansed, or providing an outlet therefor, the nuts f f may be loosened, the releasing of which will cause the bottom hoops to gradually lower, carrying with them the sectional bottom B, thereby allowing the dirty water to pass oil and the clothes to drain, after which the bot tom may again be brought into position by tightening the bottom hoops by means of the nuts, fresh water introduced into the ma chine, and the clothes subjected to the same washing operation as before described, after which the clothes may be removed and the water let off as before described or in any other manner desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a washing-machine of the kind herein shown and described, the combination, with the outer casing thereof, of the elastic removable washing-apron composed of a series of slats secured together at their lower edges by the end board H, as and for the purpose heremeans of spring-connections, the outer ends in shown and described.

of said washing-apron having; secured thereto AN T v LE EL the retaining-boards H and H, for holdlng H S TZ L 5 the same within an adjusted position in said In presence ofouter casing, the side blocks c 0 cross-strip I. D. CHAMBERLAIN,

p and the projecting lip 13', formed upon A. SUNDBERG. 

